Police say NH man molested child in Royalston for years

Published Thursday January 31, 2013 at 6:00 am

A New Hampshire man has been charged with having molested a girl over the course of several years when he was living in Royalston.

Robert W. Paas, 48, of 288 Turnpike Road, New Ipswich, N.H., was arraigned Tuesday in Winchendon District Court in Gardner on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14, three counts of aggravated statutory rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over.

Mr. Paas has been released on $20,000 cash bail and is to appear Feb. 26 for a pretrial hearing.

Police reports filed with court documents indicate Mr. Paas was arrested after the child, who is now 14 years old, told her mother about incidents involving Mr. Paas that allegedly began in August 2009 and continued until early December. Her mother told police she became suspicious after finding Mr. Paas and the child in bed together.

The incidents all allegedly took place at Mr. Pass’ home in Royalston. While police were investigating the case, the child’s mother told them she was concerned he planned to flee because had been in contact with a relative in New Mexico and had cashed in jewelry and other items.